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Do Genesis 1 and 2 contradict each other?

This one is too easy and too obvious but I just could not pass it up. Here is the supposed contradiction put forth by the atheist. Does God allow Adam to eat from any tree in Genesis 1 and then forbid him to do so in Genesis chapter 2? Or is the atheist just simply lost when it comes to intellectual integrity? A simple reading of Genesis 1 and 2 will demonstrate that the two accounts are not separate accounts of creation. Instead they are one and the same. Genesis 1 is a broad outline and Genesis 2 adds the details not given in Genesis 1. It is similar to the nightly news. At the beginning of the program, the anchor will set forth the main topics of the program (with as little detail as possible) and then the rest of the program will be devoted to adding the “meat” to the bare bones. Genesis 1 gives the general outline and then Genesis 2 adds the details that were left out of Genesis 1. Genesis 2 sharpens the focus of the creation. Why is it that atheists understand this concept when it comes to the nightly news yet they seem to through logic out the window when they pick up the Bible? Why can they not use the logic that they brag so much about when it comes to the Bible?

When Genesis 1 and 2 are combined we see that God allowed Adam to eat from any tree in the Garden of Eden except 1 tree, the tree of knowledge. Once again, please do not be fooled by the trickery of foolish men because they want you to be foolish as they are. Romans chapter 1 says that sinners do not like being alone:

32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Paul says this after listing the lifestyle of the sinner. If you have ever had friends who like to get drunk you will understand this passage, especially if you do not drink and are in their presence while they are drinking. They will try with all of their might to get you to drink with them, even if they know that you do not drink. That is the way of the sinner, he doe not want to be alone. Did you notice that these people know God’s stance on sin and what happens as a result yet they continue on and encourage others to do the same. It is almost like they are ignorant on purpose. In fact, that is the case. Peter speaks of how they are ignorant on purpose to the ways of God so that they can calm their consciences.

3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (II Peter 3)

Deliberately overlooking means being dumb on purpose. This is the way of the atheist. All of the evidence around us in the natural world points to a Creator. The Bible explains who He is. They overlook these details on purpose so that they can hang on to their ridiculous beliefs. That is not enough for them. They want others to be dumb on purpose just like they are so they try and manipulate the Bible to disprove God. Their ignorance shows and I hope that you do not want to be like they are. Please do not fall for their lies and their evil tactics. They work according to their father, the devil, the father of lies and deception. The best way to be protected from the false is to know the real so well that you cannot help but see the flaws in the false. May God bless you as you study His Word so that you can walk blamelessly before Him.

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9 comments on “Do Genesis 1 and 2 contradict each other?”

You are right: Genesis 1 and 2 don’t contradict each other (certainly not in any real substantial way).
I highly recommend this lecture series by Yale historian Christine Hayes – she’s one of the top scholars in the world. It will give you considerable insight into the origins and content of Genesis (eg. how it relates to the Enuma Elish).

This is the biggest load of croc I have ever seen. The bible is full of contradiction. Just face the facts. Both gen 1 and gen 2 have two distinct contradictions. The one mention in this blog and one on creation of man. Gen 1 says male and female are created at same time whereas gen 2 says female was made from the rib of Adam. I find it quite funny that u believe female was made from a rib but u don’t believe in evolution. Rib creation is just pure stupidness. You are dumb, you are the fools for believing such junk. Another fact for u, it says god made the stars to light up the night sky, that is impossible considering alpha centauri is 4.2 light years away. Which is our closest star soit would take 4.2 yrs for the first star to shine in the sky.
Another debunk is the flood, explain to me how on earth the dove found a olive leaf when all life, animal and plant, had been blotted out except for that on the ark. Genesis 8.11 NASB
You explainations for this should be amusing in sure. I actually downloaded a app of the bible containing all version available so I could read it again. I am reading the NASB version ATM as its the one u seem to prefer.

In other words u can’t argue it. It’s contradicted. Ur excuse for the contradiction is poor. U have no way to prove its not contradicted. It’s doesn’t say anywhere that gen 1 is the foot notes version and gen 2 is the detailed version. Ur just making it up to try and proe you arguement. Epic fail there

There is nothing to argue. There is no contradiction. A contradiction would be that Genesis 1 has Eve created first and then Genesis 2 has Adam created first. The two texts teach that Adam was created first (demonstrated in Genesis 2 and not contradicted in Genesis 1). You are grasping at straws because you have no argument.

That can be argued either way cos it stats in gen 1 male and female was created after the plants and beasts, then it says in gen 2 Adam was created before plants and beasts then women from his rib, so explain how it’s not contradicted.
U still haven’t explained how the dove could have found an olive leaf when everything was destroyed in the flood, minus what was on the ark. That’s a clear contradiction there. U’ll have a hard job explaining it as I’m a gardener so I know what happens to plants being submerged in water for any long period of time, especially an olive tree. I’ll help u out here, it would rot very quickly so there would be no new leaves for the dove to bring back. So that disproves that event straight away, now there might have been a flood but sure not a global flood, just a localised flood. A flood of maybe several feet or meters but not enough to flood more then a few thousand square kilometers at the most. So the fact the dove brought the leaf back shows it definitely wasn’t a global flood. Try again Erik.

Be careful. While studying language and lit at a secular university, my non Christian professor had a saying that I really enjoyed. It went something like, “you can learn a lot if you just pay attention”. You have failed to pay attention to Genesis 1 and 2. I am sure that you copied this argument from a book or website because a version of it constantly circulates. The problem is, unless you do the research yourself, you miss the key points that the original author also missed. It truly is a case of the blind leading the blind, as Jesus taught. If you chart out the order of Genesis 1, you get the following overview of creation.

Day one – Heavens and earth are created. “Let there be light.” Day and Night.Day two – Atmospheric waters separated from earth waters.Day three – Land appears separating the seas. Vegetation is made.Day four – Sun, moon, stars are made.Day five – Sea life and birds are made.Day six – Land animals, creeping things, and man (male and female) are made.

Notice that the animals and mankind were created on the same day. Genesis 2 does not claim that they were created on different days. If Genesis 2 were to claim that then there would be a contradiction. Genesis 2 is a more detailed account of creation, specifically focusing on the culmination of creation, mankind. There is no contradiction. You are grasping at straws again.

I do my research myself. It is u who is grasping at straws. You are blinded. It is a clear contradiction. There is no evidence to prove gen 1 is foot note and gen 2 is detailed. Your just making up stuff to prove your claim. The bible is full of contradiction and repetitive rubbish. You have no real proof that ur claim in correct. Unless u use ur usual proof being the bible itself which would mean it is a clear contradiction in black and white. Then we go bk to my other example. The flood, at the end of a over hundred day flood Noah sends out a dove to find dry land. Now it says that on the doves second return that she brought back an olive leaf. That’s a clear contradiction to the flood story within the flood story. The flood was sent to kill all life on earth, minus what was on the ark. So where the hell did the dove find an olive leaf, if it was a global flood as the bible says then there would be nothing left no olive trees, nothing. Simple study of the earths layers prove there was no global flood but even the bible disproves its own story with that one small mistake. So seems to me the bible is all lies and inaccurate. So I stand at my original conclusion. The bible is full of contradictions, historical inaccuracies and pure illogical rubbish, only a fool would believe in the bible. Have a good day.